THE 25-year-old clocked 58.09 seconds on her final run, winning by 0.97secs from American rival Noelle Pikus-Pace to claim Olympic gold for Team GB.

Lizzy Yarnold of Great Britain celebrates winning the gold medal during the Women's Skeleton

LIZZY YARNOLD kept her nerve to claim Olympic gold for Great Britain in the mountains above Rosa Khutor on Friday.

The 25-year-old from Kent smashed the track record in her third run to move over three quarters of a second clear of her American rival Noelle Pikus-Pace.

And she clocked 58.09 seconds on her fourth and final run to win by 0.97secs from Pikus-Pace with a combined time of three minutes 52.89secs.

Pikus-Pace took the silver and Russia's Elena Nikitina the bronze.

Yarnold had gone into the final two runs at the Sanki Sliding Center with a commanding 0.44 second advantage over Pikus-Pace after a commanding performance on Thursday.

And despite inevitable fears of how she might cope with the pressure of holding such a big overnight lead, she responded with a sensational run when she went first in the third run as night fell over the Caucasus mountains.

Just as Amy Williams had set a track record in her third run four years ago to effectively rubber-stamp gold, Yarnold's run left her 0.78 clear of Pikus-Pace going into the final run.

Yarnold celebrated after her gold-clinching final run by running towards the British fans in the crowd holding aloft the Union Jack and beaming with joy.

Yarnold's overnight lead had seemed to justify her status as the strongest British favourite for a Winter Olympic gold medal since Torvill and Dean triumphed in Sarajevo 30 years ago to the day.

But victory was still far from certain with home favourite Nikitina looking a particular threat having trailed Yarnold by only 0.05 seconds after the first heat before a bump midway down her second run knocked her back into third.

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Britain's Elizabeth Yarnold wins gold in the women's skeleton

Yarnold's victory makes her the fourth consecutive British woman to win an Olympic skeleton medal after Alex Coomber, Shelley Rudman and Amy Williams, who took gold in Vancouver four years ago.

Williams was present to witness Yarnold's piece of history, which came after a dominant World Cup season that saw her win the overall title with four wins and three more podium finishes from the season's eight races.

Yarnold's parents Clive and Judith, her two sisters Katie and Charlotte, and her boyfriend James Roche, who is a sled technician with the British bobsleigh team, were present to witness her famous triumph.

A jubilant Yarnold told BBC One: "I don't think it's going to sink in for a long time.

"The fourth run I was totally relaxed and went out and enjoyed it. It was a bit of a messy run but I'm thrilled to get here after working so hard for the past five years, which makes it all worth it.

"I'm pleased that I could show the world what I'm capable of. I wanted to do myself justice and I can't believe I did it.

"It's also lovely as it's Valentine's Day, so it has something romantic about it as well.

"My mum and dad and my sisters are here and I couldn't have done it without them or the Team GB skeleton team. I'm Olympic champion!

"I believed in myself and put in the hard work and dedication before we came here.

"(My advice to anyone watching is) follow your dreams and never limit yourself to what you can achieve."

Team GB chef de mission Mike Hay said: "This is a fantastic moment for Lizzy and I know every member of our Team GB delegation is thrilled for her.

"What we have seen during the past two days of competition is an athlete at the very top of her sport.

"Through hard work, determination, unwavering self-belief and an outstanding support system, Lizzy has earned a title very few athletes can claim: she is the Olympic champion.

"Lizzy is also the latest in a series of remarkable athletes who, as Olympic medallists for Team GB, have lifted British Skeleton to the pinnacle of Olympic and international competition. This list includes her team-mate, Shelley Rudman, an Olympic medallist and world champion in her own right.

"We congratulate Lizzy, Shelley, and everyone at British Skeleton for adding yet another exciting chapter to their tradition of success."

British Skeleton coach Andi Schmid said: "It's an incredible feeling. Four years after Amy (Williams) and now this and another name on the gold. It's a great achievement for British Skeleton and the individual athlete.

"In my head I'm thinking what did we achieve with four different names on the podium in four Olympics? The programme is producing great results and to have another incredible athlete again on the podium is phenomenal."